Steve Collier, outside his business which he fears could go bankrupt because of the roadworks taking place outside the Lands End

A pub landlord in Charvil has hit out at highways bosses for putting up misleading roadworks signs which he claims could force his business to sound its last orders.

Steve Collier, landlord at The Lands End pub in Park Lane, told The Wokingham Times how signs warning motorists the road is closed to passing traffic could lead to a loss in trade and the pub being declared bankrupt.

Park Lane and Whistley Mill Lane have been closed by Wokingham Borough Council for 28 days while contractors carry out maintenance work to improve concrete blocks sitting at the bottom of the Charvil ford.

However, the pub, which sits on the banks of the River Loddon crossing, remains open while the work takes place and the venue is accessible by car and foot, although the ford itself is closed to traffic in both directions.

But according to Mr Collier the signs suggest otherwise.

The angry landlord claims insufficient signage telling customers the business is continuing to trade while the work is carried out could see profits badly hit during what he described as the pub’s busiest time of the year – the August Bank Holiday weekend.

He claims the pub could lose up to £50,000 during the course of the work, which would be enough to see the business declared bankrupt.

Mr Collier said: “We depend on good summers and this is the first good summer we have had for four years. The money we raise this summer will help us through the winter.

“We could lose anything in the region of £40,000 to £50,000 in the month the work is taking place and we won’t be able to survive on that.”

Mr Collier said he became aware of the potential problem last week when he received numerous calls from concerned customers checking on bookings made while the work takes place.

A leaflet posted by the council weeks before the work began on Monday was put through a door no longer used by the pub and so was only found days ago, according to Mr Collier.

“I’m annoyed nobody from the council has been to see us,” he said. “I spent about 20 minutes on the phone trying to explain to someone [from the council] how the ‘road closed’ signs could suggest the pub is closed and asking how people would be able to work out if the pub is open if the signs are saying the road is closed.

“The staff are worried about being made redundant.

“The council need to try and put right what they have done wrong because they have made a big mistake.”

Councillor Keith Baker, executive member for highways and corporate affairs, explained how further signs reminding visitors how the pub and other businesses along the road are open would be put in place.

He also described the fact Mr Collier had not received advanced warning of the work as “unfortunate”.

Cllr Baker said: “I fully understand and sympathise with him [Mr Collier] because he has got a valid point.

“What we need to do when things like this happen which could impact businesses is to take very careful consideration on how a change in the traffic could effectively cause problems.

“The businesses on this stretch of road will remain open with business as usual. This includes the Lands End public house as well as others.”

Cllr Baker went on to say how the large car park at the pub, which is closest to the ford, would remain open during the works.